Connectas
Connectas is a Colombian nonprofit that operates a collaborative investigative journalism platform connecting 163-166 journalists across 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries, funded by foundation grants and individual donations to produce cross-border accountability reporting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- Headquarters—
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Connectas does
Connectas is a Colombian-registered nonprofit journalism platform founded in 2012 that operates a collaborative investigative journalism network spanning 19 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. Its core product is a digital journalism platform built around CONNECTASHub, a regional newsroom network of 163-166 journalists who voluntarily participate in cross-border investigative reporting; members contribute a minimum of six hours annually and join after completing collaborative productions with the organization. The platform operates a proprietary editorial-pedagogical accompaniment methodology developed over 13 years and produces four primary product lines: long-form investigative series (Especiales Periodísticos), the Territorio CONNECTAS country-specific coverage stream, the 'Tenemos Que Hablar' podcast (202+ episodes), and the Cátedra CONNECTAS editor training program (117 alumni).
The organization's supporting offerings include CONNECTAS in English (translated content for international audiences), the CONNECTAS Lab training courses, and the Diálogos CONNECTAS events series. Underlying technology consists of digital publishing infrastructure and collaborative editorial tools; there is no disclosed AI or machine learning capability in the platform stack.
Connectas generates revenue through a diversified mix of individual donations (monthly tiers of $5-$100 plus one-time contributions) and grant funding from foundations including Knight Foundation, Center for News Technology & Innovation (CNTI), Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Marilyn Harwell Fund, Pulitzer Center, and Rainforest Journalism Fund. The #PeriodismoDeValor (#InvaluableJournalism) campaign, launched in 2023 with seed funds from the Maria Moors Cabot Prize awarded to director Carlos Eduardo Huertas, represents its structured recurring-donation mechanism. The organization is led by Director Carlos Eduardo Huertas with an advisory board including academics from Harvard, Columbia, and UT Austin. The platform has produced over 1,021 collaborative investigations and received 148 journalism recognitions including a Pulitzer Prize (Panama Papers, 2017).
Connectas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Connectas
- Legal name
- CONNECTAS
- Website
- https://connectas.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Connectas is a Colombian nonprofit that operates a collaborative investigative journalism platform connecting 163-166 journalists across 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries, funded by foundation grants and individual donations to produce cross-border accountability reporting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Connectas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Collaborative Investigative Journalism
- NAICS
- Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interest-Based Communities & Forums (BPAMABAC)
Keywords
Connectas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Monthly and one-time contributions from individuals supporting investigative journalism. Donation tiers range from $5 to $100 monthly, plus one-time contributions.
- Foundation and Organization Support: Funding from organizations including Knight Foundation, Center for News, Technology & Innovation (CNTI), Community Foundation of Sarasota County, and Marilyn Harwell Fund
- #JournalismOfValue Campaign: Fundraising initiative established in 2023 with initial resources from the Maria Moors Cabot Prize awarded to director Carlos Eduardo Huertas
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly recurring donations from individual supporters |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | One-time contribution option |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Connectas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CONNECTAS is a nonprofit collaborative investigative journalism platform that connects journalists across 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries to produce cross-border investigations, analyses, podcasts, and special reports on politics, organized crime, human rights, and regional affairs. Its CONNECTASHub regional newsroom of 163 journalists enables collaborative reporting and editorial exchange, supported by an editorial-pedagogical accompaniment methodology refined over 13 years. It also delivers editor training through the Cátedra CONNECTAS program (117 alumni) and distributes content via media partnerships across the Americas.
Product overview
CONNECTAS is a hemispheric collaborative investigative journalism platform that serves as the central hub for regional reporting across 19 Latin American countries. The platform operates through a layered architecture: the CONNECTAS Platform (core web platform) hosts and distributes all content; the CONNECTAS Hub (regional network of 163 journalists) generates collaborative reporting; and specialized content streams — including Territorio CONNECTAS (geographic coverage), Tenemos Que Hablar podcast (202+ episodes of analysis), and Especiales Periodísticos (long-form investigations) — provide targeted coverage streams. Supporting offerings include Cátedra CONNECTAS (editor training with 117 alumni), CONNECTAS in English (translation layer), and CONNECTAS Editors. The platform also publishes a weekly email newsletter and manages an annual reporting cycle with 148+ journalism awards received. Content distribution agreements exist with media outlets across the Americas, and the platform operates editorial-pedagogical accompaniment to elevate journalistic production standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CONNECTASHub: Regional newsroom comprising 163 journalists from 19 Latin American countries, promoting collaborative journalism.
- Cátedra CONNECTAS
- Tenemos Que Hablar
- Territorio CONNECTAS
- #PeriodismoDeValor
- #InvaluableJournalism
Products and services
- CONNECTAS Platform A hemispheric collaborative investigative journalism platform covering the Americas, connecting journalists across 19 countries to produce in-depth investigations, analyses, and special reports on topics including politics, organized crime, human rights, and regional affairs.
- CONNECTAS Hub A regional collaborative newsroom network comprising 163 journalists across 19 Latin American countries, facilitating collaborative reporting, editorial exchange, and peer support among members; participants contribute a minimum of six hours annually to collective journalism projects.
- Tenemos Que Hablar Podcast A podcast series featuring analysis and discussion of regional political and social issues across the Americas, with 202+ episodes produced.
- Territorio CONNECTAS A geographic reporting initiative providing country-specific and cross-border coverage of political, social, and security developments across the Americas.
- Especiales Periodísticos (Special Investigations) Long-form investigative series covering major regional issues including organized crime, corruption, human rights, climate, and migration across Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Cátedra CONNECTAS A flagship regional editor training program with 117 alumni, designed to elevate journalistic standards and develop leadership in investigative reporting across Latin America.
- CONNECTAS in English English-language section of the platform providing translated content of key investigations and analyses for international audiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,021 collaborative investigative reports produced
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Connectas
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Connectas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Connectas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)corePartnership established in 2013 to develop the CONNECTASHub initiative, identifying new journalistic talents in the region, facilitating journalistic productions, and enabling collaboration and networking among regional journalists.
- International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)majorCONNECTAS participated as allied media in the Panama Papers investigation coordinated by ICIJ, which received the 2017 Pulitzer Prize.
- Latin American Media OutletsmajorCONNECTAS has managed content distribution agreements with media outlets across the Americas, making investigative journalism available through regional partner publications.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Connectas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Center for Journalists (ICFJ): ICFJ has been Connectas's partner since 2013 in launching CONNECTASHub. ICFJ is a global nonprofit that trains journalists and supports investigative networks, with a model and funder base very similar to Connectas.
- The Intercept: The Intercept is a nonprofit investigative newsroom producing adversarial, accountability-focused journalism globally including Latin America. Comparable as a donor-funded investigative publication producing cross-border investigative work.
- International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ): The ICIJ coordinates global cross-border investigative journalism projects and was Connectas's partner on the 2017 Pulitzer-winning Panama Papers investigation. Both operate as collaborative investigative journalism networks linking journalists across multiple countries.
- Bellingcat: Bellingcat operates as a collaborative investigative journalism network using open-source techniques across borders. While more globally focused and tech-centric, it competes for the same foundation funding pool and addresses similar cross-border accountability issues.
- Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN): GIJN is a global association of investigative journalism organizations that supports cross-border reporting and capacity building. Connectas as a member organization would be highly comparable as both are networks supporting investigative journalism collaboration.
- ProPublica: ProPublica is a nonprofit investigative journalism outlet producing high-impact accountability reporting. It is comparable as a foundation-funded investigative platform, though focused on US rather than Latin American affairs.
- Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP): OCCRP is a global investigative journalism network focused on organized crime and corruption, with a regional reporting model very similar to Connectas. Both organizations coordinate cross-border investigations and provide editorial support to local journalists.
- Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística (CLIP): CLIP is a Latin American collaborative investigative journalism initiative that connects journalists across the region. It is directly comparable to Connectas as a regional platform producing cross-border accountability journalism in Spanish-speaking Americas.
- Fundación Gabo: Fundación Gabo promotes excellence in Latin American journalism through the prestigious Gabriel García Márquez Prize — which Connectas has won. Both organizations aim to elevate journalistic standards across the Spanish-speaking Americas.
Emerging players
- Rest of World: Rest of World is a nonprofit newsroom covering technology's impact outside the Western bubble, including Latin America. It is comparable as a nonprofit journalism outlet with global coverage including Spanish-speaking regions, though its focus is technology rather than general investigative journalism.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Connectas social profiles
Digital presenceConnectas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Connectas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Connectas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Connectas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Connectas
What does Connectas do?
CONNECTAS is a nonprofit collaborative investigative journalism platform that connects journalists across 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries to produce cross-border investigations, analyses, podcasts, and special reports on politics, organized crime, human rights, and regional affairs. Its CONNECTASHub regional newsroom of 163 journalists enables collaborative reporting and editorial exchange, supported by an editorial-pedagogical accompaniment methodology refined over 13 years. It also delivers editor training through the Cátedra CONNECTAS program (117 alumni) and distributes content via media partnerships across the Americas.
Is Connectas a public or private company?
Connectas is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Connectas founded?
Connectas was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
How does Connectas make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Organization Support and #JournalismOfValue Campaign.
Who are Connectas's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), The Intercept, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), Bellingcat, Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), ProPublica, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística (CLIP) and Fundación Gabo. Rest of World is listed as an emerging player.
Does Connectas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Connectas.
What industry is Connectas in?
Connectas's product category is Collaborative Investigative Journalism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMABAC, Interest-Based Communities & Forums. Its NAICS code is 516 and its SIC code is 8600.